NFL roundup: Robert Griffin III jerseys set sales record

By The Sports Xchange, Special to the BDN •December 17, 2012 8:27 pm

Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is setting records in stores as well as on the field.

His No. 10 Redskins jersey has become the highest selling jersey in a single season since the NFL started keeping track of those numbers six years ago, ESPN.com reported, based on information provided by league spokeswoman Joanna Hunter.

Griffin secured the No. 1 sales spot when he overtook Brett Favre, who twice held the record for most jerseys sold in a year twice — once with with the New York Jets in 2008 and again with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.

And Griffin figures to solidify his No. 1 sales status, because the NFL’s fiscal year does not end until March 31, so he has more than three months to add to his total.

Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos jersey is also in demand and has become the fourth-highest selling jersey in a season, surpassing sales of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in 2007.

Griffin status undecided

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan did not indicate on Monday whether he expects Griffin to return to the lineup for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, the Washington Post reported.

Shanahan told reporters only that Griffin would be evaluated on a daily basis. Shanahan did not say whether he expects Griffin to participate fully in Wednesday’s practice.

Griffin sat out Sunday’s win at Cleveland because of a mild sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Mendenhall reinstated

Running back Rashard Mendenhall was reinstated by the Pittsburgh Steelers after being suspended one game for skipping the team’s Week 14 game against the San Diego Chargers after learning he would be inactive.

Despite the suspension, Mendenhall and the Steelers are engaging in contract talks, ESPN.com reported Sunday.

Mendenhall is a free agent at the end of the season.

Finger surgery for Bryant

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant likely will undergo surgery after the season that requires a bone graft to repair his broken left finger.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the graft would come from bone tissue in Bryant’s hip, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

However, Bryant said he wants it to come from a different source.

Brent on sidelines

Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was on the sidelines for Sunday’s game, but team officials did not know he was going to be there, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Brent was charged with vehicular manslaughter in an accident that resulted in the death of teammate Jerry Brown Jr.

Teammates encouraged him to come to the game, according to the report, but Jones and head coach Jason Garrett did not know he’d be there.

Frustrated in Chicago

—As Chicago’s slide continued Sunday with a home loss to NFC North rival Green Bay, boos rained down on the Bears from frustrated fans. And linebacker Brian Urlacher didn’t like it.

“Two of the people I don’t care about: fans or media,” Urlacher told WFLD-TV. “They can say what they want to about our head coach, about our players. It does bother me. They don’t know what they’re talking about, obviously. I know there are a lot of experts in the media, a bunch of smart guys out there who know exactly what they’re talking about all the time. They don’t know what they’re talking about. Lovie (Smith) is the head coach of this football team and hopefully will be for a long time.”

Browns release Patterson

Cornerback Dmitri Patterson was released by the Cleveland Browns.

Signed as a free agent over the offseason, the veteran started four of seven games and totaled 28 tackles with five passes broken up.

However, he suffered an ankle injury in mid-October that kept him out of seven games. By the time Patterson returned, he had fallen down the depth chart and was playing in dime situations of late.